Amalgamator



May a, 1945.

J. c. SHANNON AMALGAMATOR 1 Filed June 10, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 8,M45. .1. SHANNON AMALGAMATOR Filed June 10, 1942 2 Sheets-Shee t 2Inventor Patented May 8, 1945 UNITED STATES"PATENT OFFICE 2,375,254AMALGAMATOR Joseph C. Shannon, Leadville, 0010.

Application June 10, 1942, Serial No. 446,539

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements inamalgamators, and has for its primary object to provide a device of thischaracter comprising a coacting mortar and pestle of a novelconstruction and arrangement whereby maximum efficiency will be had.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an amalgamator of theaforementioned character which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, compact and which may be manufactured atlow cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of an amalgamator constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

' Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the pestle.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan View of the pestle.

Figure 6 is a view in vertical section through the mortar.

Figure '7 is a top plan view of the mortar.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it

will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has beenillustrated comprises a mortar I of suitable material and capacity. Themortar I includes supporting legs 2. As illustrated to advantage inFigure 6 of the drawings, the upper portion of the bowl 3 of the mortarI is formed to provide an annular trough 4.

Discharge openings 5 communicate with the mortar bowl 3 at the bottomthereof. Removable plugs t close the openings 5. Extending from the topto the bottom of the bowl 3 are spiral grooves or channels I. Thegrooves I communicate with the openings 5 and extend counter-clockwisetherefrom to the annular trough 4 in the top of the bowl 3. A centrallylocated cone 8 rises from the bottom of the bowl 3. A discharge spout orchute 9 communicates with the trough 4.

The bowl 3 is adapted to rotatably receive a pestle I I3. The pestle It!has formed therein clockwise spiral grooves or channels II. Rising fromthe pestle I0 is a shaft I2. Extending through the shaft I2 and thepestle I I] is a bore or passage I3 comprising a substantially flaredlower portion I4 which accommodates the cone 8.

An angular bracket I5 is mounted on the bowl 3.

A locking clamp IE on the bracket I5 encircles the shaft I2 forpreventing unauthorized removal of the pestle Ill. Any suitable meanmay, if desired, also be provided for preventing unauthorized removal ofthe plugs 6.

It'is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparentfrom a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, with the plugs 6 inposition in the openings 5, the mercury is placed in the mortar I. Thepestle, I0 is then engaged in the mortar and secured by the lockingclamp I6. The material to be treated, with enough solution to carry it,is fed in any suitable manner through the bore Or passage I3 in thepestle II]. The pulp is forced into the bottom of the mortar and comesinto direct contact with the mercury and the fine flower gold ispolished in direct contactwith said mercury. This polishing and grindingprocess removes foreign matter, et cetera, which frequently preventsperfect'amalgamationof fine gold. The pestle i0 is rotated in aclockwise direction and the action of the oppositely spiraled groves orchannels I and II forces the loaded amalgam downwardly in the mortar Ifrom which it may be conveniently drained off when desired by removingthe plugs ii. This action also permits the uncontaminated mercury torise to the upper portion of the mortar where it prevents the loss ofany flowered mercury or gold that may be forced upwardly with the flowof material being treated. As the concentrate is forced through theamalgamator the overflow is discharged by the spout 9 onto an amalgamplate II. The overfiow from the plate I! may be treated in any suitablemanner.

It is believed that the many advantages of an amalgamator constructed inaccordance with the present invention will be readily understood, andalthough a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention a claimed.

What is claimed is:

An amalgamator comprising a stationary cylindrical mortar having acylindrical cavity and provided with a bottom wall having a centralupstanding cone and a concave annular surface surrounding said cone,said bottom Wall having discharge openings located centrally between thesides of said concave annular surface, the cylindrical wall of themortar having an annular trough formed in the upper edge thereof so asto define a high outer wall and a relatively low inner wall for thetrough, the mortar having spiral grooves in the inner surface of itscylindrical wall communicating with the trough at their upper ends andwith the discharge openings at, their lower ends, said higher outer wallhaving an outwardly inclined discharge spout, and a. cylindrical pestlerotatably fitted in said mortar and having its bottom shaped to fit theconcave annular surface 01 the mortar bottom and formed with a centralrecess to fit said cone, said pestle having spiral grooves thereinextending from the top of the cylindrical surface thereof to and acrossthe bottom of the same, said last-named grooves extending in a directionopposite to that of the groove in the mortar.

JOSEPH C. SHANNON.

